Courtesy of Mish.
In what should be perfectly obvious (but isn’t to Germany and Sweden), EU’s Refugee Policy Helps People Smugglers.
Europe is running a “people-smugglers’ promotion programme” that is “massively overburdening” several countries, Austria’s foreign minister has warned.
Urgent action should be taken to control the EU’s external borders, Sebastian Kurz told the Financial Times, and an “honest” message should be sent to make clear the migrant rush is too great.
“There is a massive overburdening, not only in Austria but in other countries such as Germany and Sweden,” he said. “It cannot continue as it is.”
The minister’s comments highlight rising alarm in Vienna, which has found itself on the front lines of Europe’s migrant crisis, and could presage fresh clashes with Berlin over its response.
Responding to public anger, Vienna this week announced tougher rules on asylum seekers wanting their families to join them in Austria.
Rather than encouraging unhindered inflows, as some accuse Berlin of having done, Mr Kurz said asylum applications should be assessed at the EU border or further afield. Those likely to be successful could then be distributed fairly among member states. “What we’re doing at the moment is indirectly running a people-smugglers’ promotion programme,” he said.
Mr Kurz also took aim at efforts by EU leaders, including Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, to appeal to Turkey to curb the numbers crossing into Greece. It was “hypocritical”, he argued, for EU countries to imply they were welcoming refugees while behind the scenes relying on Turkey to block their entry.
Last week Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the ÖVP interior minister, revealed plans to build a fence on the border with Slovenia. Her comments raised concerns because they appeared to threaten the reimposition of EU internal border checks. Mr Faymann had previously criticised Hungary for building a fence on its borders.
Parade of Fools
At the head of the “not getting it at all” parade are German Chancellor Angela Merkel, EU head Jean-Claude Juncker, and especially Stefan Löfven, Sweden’s prime minister.
Please consider Stefan Löfven Rebukes Eastern Europe Over Refugee Crisis.
Stefan Löfven, Sweden’s prime minister, rebuked some central and eastern European governments for what he termed a selfish approach to the EU’s refugee and migrant crisis, saying their attitude was incompatible with humane European values.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Löfven said: “I can understand it if you say this crisis is a worry. But to say: ‘This isn’t my problem, we can’t accept Muslims’ — no, I don’t think this is part of our European values, and I can’t understand this kind of attitude.”…
